Begonia plant named ‘Bela’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bela’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; double flowers that are dark pinkish red in color and held above the foliage; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Begonia×hybrida cultivar Bela.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bela’.

The new Begonia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, in October, 1999, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Berseba’,not patented. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a groupof flowering plants of the parent cultivar. The selection of this plantwas based on its flower coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, has shown that theunique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bela’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bela’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bela’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

1. Upright and mounded plant habit.

2. Double flowers that are dark pinkish red in color and held above thefoliage.

3. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent, thecultivar Berseba, primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivarBerseba have dark red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar differ primarily from plants of the cultivarBazan, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,343, in flower color asplants of the cultivar Bazan have pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bela’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Ermelo, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in aglass-covered greenhouse. Average day and night temperatures were about20° C. during the first three to four weeks then lowered to an averageday and night temperature of 19° C. until flowering. Four weeks afterplanting rooted cuttings in 12-cm containers, one week of longnyctoperiods of 16 hours was given followed by short nyctoperiods ofeight hours until flowering. Plants used for the photographs and thedescription were about four months old. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bela.

Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemaliscultivar Berseba, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Cuttings.

Time to develop roots.—About 40 days at temperatures of 20 to 22° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, well-branched and spreading. Plants ofthe new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Upright and mounded plant habit, inverted triangle; freelybranching with good stem and stem base strength. Flowers are double andabundant. Plants flower continuously.

Growth habit.—Moderate growth rate, vigorous. Suitable for 12 to 15-cmcontainers. Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usuallyabout four months are required to produce proportional 13-cm pottedplants from cuttings. Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes andflowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.

Plant height.—About 25.5 cm.

Plant width.—About 42 cm.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Young leaves, length: About 6cm. Young leaves, width: About 6 cm. Fully expanded leaves, length:About 9 cm. Fully expanded leaves, width: About 9.5 cm. Shape:Asymmetrical, more or less reniform. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cordate.Margin: Doubly serrate. Texture: Glabrous, smooth. Venation pattern:Palmate. Color: Young leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A. Youngleaves, lower surface: 194A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Muchdarker than 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 194A to 194B.Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147C. Petiole length: About 4 cm.Petiole texture: Pubescent. Petiole color: 180B.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals arranged inaxillary cymes. Usually 8 to 12 flowers per cyme. Many cymes in flowersimultaneously. Flowers positioned above the foliage. Floweringcontinuous.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower year around regardless ofnyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and more abundantly frommid-February until November in the Northern Hemisphere.

Flowers.—Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height): About2.6 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Color: 47D.

Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Rounded flabellate. Apex: Rounded.Margin, outer and inner tepals: Slightly crenate. Quantity per flower:Usually about 30 per flower. Size: Outer tepals: Length: About 3.1 cm.Width: About 3.6 cm. Inner tepals: Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About3.6 cm. Texture: Smooth, satiny, glabrous. Color: When opening, upperand lower surfaces: 53C to 53D. Fully opened, upper surface: 53C to 53D;flower color does not fade with subsequent development. Fully opened,lower surface: Closest to 53D.

Flower bracts.—Arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape: Broadly cordate. Apex:Apiculate. Margin: Serrate. Texture: Glabrous. Color, both surfaces:139D overlain with anthocyanin, close to 53A.

Peduncles.—Angle: Erect. Length: About 4 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:Close to 180C to 180D.

Pedicels.—Angle: Erect. Length: About 1.2 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:179C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed as reproductive organs arenot formed.

Postproduction longevity:

Individual flowers.—Generally about 2 to 3 weeks.

Whole plants.—About 6 weeks under interior conditions.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toBegonia has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named‘Bela’, as